Washing hose storing device

ABSTRACT

A washing hose storing device, wherein guide means ( 31 ) guiding a washing hose ( 2 ) from an inner peripheral surface ( 3   a ) of a rotary housing ( 3 ) to an extracting hole ( 8 ) is disposed between the extracting hole ( 8 ) and the center part of the rotary housing ( 3 ), whereby the extracting and storing operations of the washing hose can be facilitated.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a drain pipe washing device for washingpipeline facilities such as drain pipes installed in apartment buildingsand other buildings, and particularly to drive control operations for awashing hose used in a drain pipe washing device and to a washing hosestoring device for storing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

Drain pipe washing devices have been provided conventionally wherein ahigh pressure hose (washing hose) is used for washing drain pipes andother pipeline facilities. In the forward end of the hose, which is acomparatively rigid hose that does not bend readily, such as a stainlesssteel hose, is provided a nozzle having injection holes for jetting highpressure water. The high pressure hose is inserted in a drain pipe sothat the interior thereof is washed by high pressure water jetted fromthe injection holes in the nozzle.

With such a drain pipe washing device, a washing hose storing device isused that, in addition to compactly accommodating the high pressure hosewhen not in use, is also for extracting the high pressure hose, when itis used, into the drain pipe, and applying a turning drive theretoinside the drain pipe when washing that drain pipe.

This conventional washing hose storing device 1, as diagrammed in FIG.8, is configured of a substantially cylindrically shaped (doughnutshaped) rotary housing 3 that accommodates a comparatively rigid highpressure hose (washing hose) 2 that does not readily bend by winding thehose on the inner peripheral surface 3 a thereof, and a drive shaft 4that rotatably supports the rotary housing 3. The drive shaft 4 issupported rotatably by a bearing 6 in a frame 5 configured of pipe andsheet material or the like.

A substantially cone-shaped cover 7 is provided in an opening 3 b in therotary housing 3 described above, and a extracting hole 8 for extractingthe high pressure hose 2 is formed in the forward end of the cover 7, ata position in opposition to the rotary housing 3.

In the extracting hole 8 is screwed a lock bolt 9 for locking theextracting of the high pressure hose 2.

In the axial center of the drive shaft 4 described above, furthermore,is formed a washing liquid guide channel 4 a for conducting the highpressure water constituting the washing liquid, and at the forward endthereof, the back end 2 a of the high pressure hose 2 is connectedthrough a hose connection joint 11. At the rearward end of the washingliquid guide channel 4 a is connected, via a connecting hose joint 12,the forward end of a washing liquid supply hose 13 that conducts washingwater supplied from a high pressure pump (not shown).

According to such a washing liquid guiding structure as this, thewashing liquid (arrow) sent under pressure from a high pressure pump(not shown) is conducted from the washing liquid supply hose 13 to thewashing liquid guide channel 4 a in the drive shaft 4, and from there isconducted through the hose connection joint 11 into the high pressurehose 2.

At the forward end of the high pressure hose 2 described above,furthermore, is secured a commonly known nozzle 15 having injectionholes 14 opened in the peripheral surface thereof at a prescribed pitch,and at the forward end of that nozzle 15 is connected a universal guide16, also commonly known.

For the detailed structure of the nozzle 15 and guide 16, the reader isreferred to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. S62-163789 filedpreviously by the applicant.

The high pressure hose 2 described in the foregoing is configured by astainless steel hose, for example, that is comparatively rigid and thatdoes not readily bend. Therefore, when it is wound and accommodatedinside the rotary housing 3, due to its own springiness whereby it triesto return to its natural linear shape, the high pressure hose 2 will bewound and accommodated in a condition where the hose 2 is in tightcontact with the inner peripheral surface of the rotary housing 3.

Meanwhile, in the washing hose storing device 1 described in theforegoing, a driving device (not shown) is provided for driving therotary housing 3 so that it turns, and follower means (a follower pulleyor follower gear) 17 configuring a part thereof are secured between therotary housing 3 and the bearing 6.

When a follower pulley is used as the follower means 17, moreover, therotary housing 3 is turned by a driving device having a manual drivepulley (not shown), whereas, when a follower gear is used as thefollower means 17, the rotary housing 3 is turned via a motor (notshown) and a drive gear secured to the drive shaft thereof.

When the rotary housing 3 is turned in this manner, the high pressurehose 2 also turns, following that turning, and, thereby, the nozzle 15will turn inside the drain pipe and wash the inside of the drain pipe.

According to the washing hose storing device 1 described in theforegoing, when, as diagrammed in FIG. 9, the lock bolt 9 in theextracting hole 8 is loosened, and, thereafter, an operator inserts thenozzle 15 into a drain pipe 20, while pulling the high pressure hose 2out from the extracting hole 8, as indicated by the arrow A, and alsocauses the rotary housing 3 to turn in one direction by drive means (notshown), the nozzle 15 will advance while turning in a spiral patterninside the drain pipe 20, and, while that is happening, solidified wastematerial adhering to the inside of the drain pipe 20 will be strippedaway by the high pressure water C jetted from the injection holes 14.

When the washing operation inside the drain pipe 20 is finished, theoperator pulls the high pressure hose 2 back, as indicated by the arrowB, while turning the rotary housing 3 in the other direction, pushes itinto the extracting hole 8, and thereby accommodates the high pressurehose 2 inside the rotary housing 3.

Now, based on the conventional washing hose storing device 1 describedin the foregoing, when the operator pulls the high pressure hose 2 fromthe extracting hole 8 as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 9, part ofthat high pressure hose 2, due to its own springiness, strikes part ofthe opening 3 b or extracting hole 8 in the rotary housing 3 with astrong force to constitute a load. As a consequence, it is difficult toextract the high pressure hose 2 smoothly from the extracting hole 8,which constitutes a difficulty.

Furthermore, when the operator pushes the high pressure hose 2 into theextracting hole 8, as indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 9, part of thathigh pressure hose 2 abuts against part of the inner peripheral surface3 a of the rotary housing 3 or part of the drive shaft 4, as diagrammedin FIG. 10, resulting in a large load. As a consequence, a difficultyarises in that the high pressure hose 2 cannot be accommodated smoothlyinside the rotary housing 3.

Furthermore, in order to smoothly wind up the high pressure hose 2 onthe inner peripheral surface 3 a of the rotary housing 3 and accommodateit, the operation of pushing the high pressure hose 2 into theextracting hole 8 while turning the rotary housing 3 in one direction isnecessary. For this reason, a difficulty arises in that, when turningthe rotary housing 3 by a driving device, the operation of taking in thehigh pressure hose 2 by the operator is extremely troublesome.

When this operation is done by driving the rotary housing 3 to turnusing a manually operated driving device, that difficulty becomes evenmore pronounced.

An object of the present invention, which was devised with thecircumstances described in the foregoing in view, is to provide awashing hose storing device wherewith the operations of pulling out andtaking in the washing hose are made easy.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to resolve the problems set forth in the foregoing, the presentinvention is a washing hose storing device in which a washing hose iswound up so as to be in tight contact with an inner peripheral surfaceof a substantially cylindrical rotary housing, and when the washing hoseis to be used, the washing hose is pulled out from a extracting holeformed at a position in opposition to a center part of the rotaryhousing and when not in use, the washing hose is pulled back inside theextracting hole, wound up so as to be in tight contact with the innerperipheral surface of the rotary housing, and accommodated, whereinguide means for guiding the washing hose from inner peripheral surfaceof the rotary housing to the extracting hole is provided between theextracting hole and the center part of the rotary housing. Therefore,during the operations of pulling the washing hose out from the rotaryhousing and pulling it back, the washing hose will not strike otherunnecessary parts of the rotary housing, and will not stop the advancethereof. Thus, the operations of pulling out and taking in the washinghose from and into the rotary housing are made extremely easy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing hose storing deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view representing the operation of thewashing hose storing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view at E—E in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view at E—E in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view representing the operation of thewashing hose storing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view at H—H in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view at H—H in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional washing hose storingdevice;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing the operation ofthe conventional washing hose storing device; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing the operationof the conventional washing hose storing device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A detailed description is herebelow given of one embodiment of thewashing hose storing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing hose storing device 30according to the present invention, wherein the same parts as in FIG. 8are designated by the same symbols.

With this washing hose storing device 30, guide means 31 for guiding thewashing hose 2 from the inner peripheral surface 3 a of the rotaryhousing 3 to the extracting hole 8 are provided between the center part4 b at the forward end of the drive shaft forming the center of therotary housing 3, and the extracting hole 8 formed in the center of thesubstantially conical cover 7. In this embodiment, moreover, acylindrical projecting part 10 is provided as an extensionconcentrically with the drive shaft 4 to as much as possible prevent thehigh pressure hose 2 from becoming tangled.

The guide means 31 described above are configured by a single pipe shaft32 supported so that it can freely turn between a bearing 8 a comprisinga concave portion formed in the extracting hole 8 and a bearing 4 ccomprising a concave portion formed in the center part 4 b at theforward end of the drive shaft 4, and by a guide pipe 33 formed so thatit bends toward the inner peripheral surface 3 a of the rotary housing3, branching from the forward end, i.e. from the extracting hole 8 end,of the pipe shaft 32. The washing hose 2 is inserted inside this guidepipe 33, extracted from the inner peripheral surface 3 a of the rotaryhousing 3, and guided into the extracting hole 8.

The pipe shaft 32 described above is supported between the bearing 8 ain the extracting hole 8 and the bearing 4 c in the drive shaft 4 so asto provide play of a prescribed length along the direction of the axisthereof. Also, between the bearing 4 c in the drive shaft 4 and the pipeshaft 32 supported by that bearing 4 c are formed clutch means 35, in adog clutch structure, such that the clutch is engaged when a concaveportion and a convex portion are engaged, and such that the clutch isdisengaged when the engagement between the concave portion and convexportion is released.

Next, the operation of the washing hose storing device 30 is described.

As diagrammed in FIG. 2, when the lock bolt 9 in the extracting hole 8is loosened, and then the operator pulls the high pressure hose 2 outfrom the extracting hole 8, as indicated by the arrow A, due to a slightforce of friction acting between the guide pipe 33 of the guide means 31and the high pressure hose 2 inserted therein, the pipe shaft 32 of theguide means 31 move to the right as shown in the drawing and indicatedby the arrow D, by the amount of the play. As a result, the clutch means35 is disengaged, and the pipe shaft 32 of the guide means 31 can turnfreely between the bearing 4 c in the drive shaft 4 and the bearing 8 ain the extracting hole 8.

At this time, that is, when the high pressure hose 2 is pulled out fromthe extracting hole 8, the high pressure hose 2 will be guided from theinner peripheral surface 3 a of the rotary housing 3 to the extractinghole 8, via the guide pipe 33 of the guide means 31. Therefore, the highpressure hose 2 will not strike other parts, and hence the high pressurehose 2 will be pulled smoothly from the extracting hole 8. Thus, theoperation of pulling out the high pressure hose 2 is made extremelyeasy.

When the high pressure hose 2 is pulled out farther, as diagrammed inFIG. 3 and FIG. 4 which represent the cross section along the line E—Ein FIG. 2 with the cover 7 removed, as the high pressure 2 is pulled outfarther, the guide pipe 33 and pipe shaft 32 of the guide means 31 turnin the direction (arrow F) in which the high pressure hose 2 to bepulled out is wound. Therefore the wound high pressure hose 2, asdiagrammed in FIG. 4, will be smoothly pulled inside the guide pipe 33without being pulled between the inner peripheral surface 3 a of therotary housing 3 and the tip end 33 a of the guide pipe 33.

During this time, furthermore, when the rotary housing 3 is turned inone direction by drive means (not shown), as diagrammed in FIG. 2, thenozzle 15 will advance while turning in a spiral pattern inside thedrain pipe 20, and, during that time, the solid waste material adheringto the inside of the drain pipe 20 will be stripped away and removed bythe high pressure water C jetted from the injection holes 14.

Then, when the washing operation in the drain pipe 20 by the highpressure water (arrow C) jetted from the nozzle 15 described earlier isfinished, and the high pressure hose 2 is being taken into the rotaryhousing 3, the turning of the rotary housing 3 is first stopped, andthen, as diagrammed in FIG. 5, the high pressure hose 2 that has beenextended into the drain pipe 20 is pulled back as indicated by the arrowB, and that high pressure hose 2 is pushed into the extracting hole 8.

When that is done, due to the slight frictional force that acts betweenthe guide pipe 33 of the guide means 31 and the high pressure hose 2inserted therein, the pipe shaft 32 of those guide means 31 moves to theleft side of the drawing, as indicated by the arrow G, by the amount ofplay, whereby the clutch means 35 are engaged. As a result, the pipeshaft 32 of the guide means 31 and the bearing 4 c in the drive shaft 4are engaged.

In this condition, as diagrammed in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 which representthe cross section along the line H—H in FIG. 5 with the cover 7 removed,when the high pressure hose 2 is brought into tight contact with theinner peripheral surface 3 a of the rotary housing 3 through the guidepipe 33 of the guide means 31, due to the springiness at that time ofthe high pressure hose 2 that is deformed into a curve, the guide pipe33 and pipe shaft 32 of the guide means 31 will turn as indicated by thearrow I, and, simultaneously, the rotary housing 3 that is linked to thepipe shaft 32 will also turn in the same direction, linked to theturning of the pipe shaft 32.

At that time, that is, when the high pressure hose 2 is pulled back, thehigh pressure hose 2 is pushed against the inner peripheral surface 3 aof the rotary housing 3 by the guide pipe 33 of the guide means 31.Therefore, the high pressure hose 2 does not strike other parts thereof.Therefore, not only is the high pressure hose 2 pushed against the innerperipheral surface 3 a of the rotary housing 3 and taken in smoothly,but, simultaneously, the rotary housing 3 moves in linkage with theturning of the pipe shaft 32, turning in the same direction. Therefore,when taking in the high pressure hose 2, there is no need to turn therotary housing 3 by drive means, thus making the operation ofaccommodating the high pressure hose extremely easy.

In the embodiment described in the foregoing, as diagrammed in FIG. 1,clutch means 35 are provided between the bearing 4 c in the drive shaft4 and the pipe shaft 32 supported by that bearing 4 c. However, thepresent invention is not limited to or by that embodiment, and suchclutch means 35 need not be provided. In that case, the rotary housing 3will not turn synchronously with the pipe shaft 32, but the guide pipe33 of the guide means 31 will turn in the direction indicated by thearrow I, and the high pressure 2 will be smoothly guided andaccommodated inside the rotary housing 3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described in the foregoing, the washing hose storing device accordingto the present invention is well suited to the operation of driving awashing hose used in a drain pipe washing device, and to theaccommodation of such washing hose.

What is claimed is:
 1. A washing hose storing device in which a washinghose is wound up so as to be in tight contact with an inner peripheralsurface of a substantially cylindrical rotary housing, and when thewashing hose is to be used, the washing hose is pulled out from anextracting hole formed at a position in opposition to a center part ofthe rotary housing and when not in use, the washing hose is pulled backinside the extracting hole, wound up so as to be in tight contact withthe inner peripheral surface of the rotary housing, and accommodated,wherein: guide means for guiding the washing hose from inner peripheralsurface of the rotary housing to the extracting hole is provided betweenthe extracting hole and the center part of the rotary housing, saidguide means comprising a pipe shaft that is supported rotatably betweenthe center part of the rotary housing and the extracting hole, and aguide pipe that branches away from the pipe shaft and is formed to becurved toward the inner peripheral surface of the rotary housing.
 2. Thewashing hose storing device according to claim 1, wherein the washinghose comprises a stainless steel hose that is comparatively rigid anddoes not readily bend.
 3. The washing hose storing device according toclaim 1, wherein a clutch means is provided between the center part ofthe rotary housing and the pipe shaft, the clutch means being disengagedwhen the washing hose is being pulled out, and being engaged when thewashing hose is being pulled back.